Panel closure



Jan. 22, 1952 Filed July 20, 194e .1. H. oswALD ETAL PANEL cLosuRE Jan. 22, 1952 J H QSWALD 'ETAL 2,583,439

PANEL CLOSURE Filed July 20, 1946 2 SHEETS--SHEET 2 17 4 F17 Ha.

AfToRNEY Patented Jan. 22, 1952 2,583,439 `PANEL CLOSURE Joseph H. Oswald, South. Euclid, and Frederick Oswald, Clevland,`Qhio ApplicationJuly 20, 1946,' SerlalNm 685,262

Claims.

. The invention relates to panel closures such asjwindows and doorsof buildings and is especially applicable to auxiliary panel structures such as storm windows and doors and combinationstorm-and-screen windows and doors.

.Under the common prior practice it has been necessary to fit the sash part of such auxiliary Windows to the window frame on the job becauseof lack of uniformity in window frame design, of dimensional variations due to faulty workmanship, of swelling or shrinkage of wood construction, and the like. Such fitting on the jobv has usually been necessary also in the case of storm` and combination doors. As a consequence, installation of such windows and doors `usually has required the services of a carpenterwand of apainter, so thatV the installation expense has constituted a very considerable part of the total installed cost to the purchaser and that total cost has been unduly large.

Thechief objectof the present invention is to provide an improved panel and adaptor struc-` ture that can be installed in the cased openings of buildings by unskilled labor without material structural modification of either thepanel or casing structures, so that the panel, including painting, can be completely .fabricated to final form in the factory, and by efiicient methods,

with resultant lowering of both fabrication and` installation expense.

Another object of the` invention is to provide an auxiliary window construction of thecharacter specified which is pleasing in appearance and can be installed without modifying the architectural linesor `appearance of the main window design.

A further object of the invention, more or less ancillary to ,those stated above, is to provide for use with panel closures, adaptor means or devices thatare structurally simple and inexpensive and susceptible of usewith standard or conventional types of panel closures, such as storm doors and storm or screen Window sashes, to adapt such panel structures of standard dimen sions to casing openings that may depart sub stantially in form and dimensions fromtheir nominal sizes.

An additional object of the invention is to provide a storm type of window capable of providing a` high' degree of` thermal insulation but having also eflectiveprovision for drainage of moisture which may in anyway findv access to the air spacebetween the main and auxiliary windowpanels. .l l

Withtne aboveobjects in view the invention 41;: 'i consists m forms,V arrangements and combina-` tions of structural parts hereinafter exemplified and explained, in connection with preferred em-` bodiments shown in the accompanying drawings,` and defined in the claims. the storm window type embodying the improve` Fig.. 2 `is an enlarged vertical section taken on the line 2-2 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3 is an enlargedhorizontal section taken' on theline 3-3 of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3a is a `section similar to that in Fig. 3

showing the identical sash and adaptor frame of Fig. amounted in a casing opening differing size'from the dimensions shown in Fig. 3.

Fig. 4 is a vertical section on the line 4-4` in Fig. 1. Fig.` 5 `isa section on the line 5-5 of ZFig. 1.`

Fig. 6 is" a section on the line 6--6 of Fig. 5. Fig. 7 is a detached enlarged plan view of the` adaptor and .Weather seal device mounted on4 to permit the enlarged showing. i

Fig.A 8 is an enlarged` fragmentary vertica section on the line 8-8 of Fig. 1.

. Fig. 8a is a viewsimilar to Fig. 8 showing the positioning` ofthe sill-mounted adaptor'and seal device to accommodate a casing opening larger vertically than the casing opening shown in Fig.v 1 and Fig. 8.`

v `Figi) is an enlarged fragmentary outside elevation illustrating a modified means for piv` otallymounting the auxiliary sash structure `,.lig. 10 is a sectionon the line lll- I0 of Fig. 9.

Fig.-11 isa horizontal section corresponding to Fig. 3 illustrating a slightly modified form of adaptor frame for use where the outside trim'` of the window casing departs from the trimnof.V standard dimensions shown in Figs. 1 to 10.4 Fig. fl2 is-a View similar to Fig. 11` showing still another modification of the adaptor frame construction .for uselfinconnection with` the same modified trim construction 'shown in Fig-.1.1. i i

Referring nowv in detail` to the several struc?. tures .illustrated Vand first to .the `constructions showmindiigs.` l-.to 8a rthe referenceV character Panel structures of I designates as an entirety a conventional window frameor casing structure of wood compris-V ing upright or stile parts 2, 2 (Fig.V 3) a head 3 (Fig. 2) and a sill 4 (Figs. 1 and 8). The casing structure further includes upright blind stops 5, 5 and transverse blind stop 6. The window casing is provided with outside trim members 'I, and 8. A 'similar casing structure is more fully shown in United States Patsprings I2 which are carried by hooks I3 mounted in the transverse stop member 6' (Figs.

l and 2) and at their lower ends are attached to screw eyes I4 carried by panel I9. The lower railof upper panel I9 `and the upper rail of lwer panel II are itted with metal tongue and groovechannel members I5, Y I5. The lower panel vItis yieldingly supported from the upper panel Ill by means ofV coil springs, I6, IS which at their upper ends engagey hooks I7, 'Il carriedlby panel I0, and at theirlower ends engage screw eyes I8, I8 carried by panel I I. This construction provides a weather-tight joint between the two s ash panels and permits their pivotalnor swinging movement in relation to each other. The sashconstruction shown is similar tothat shown. in U.` S. Patent 2,372,792 and is there fully described. As is disclosed in thepatent, the lower sash panel mayr either be glazed or a similarY sash fitted with an insect screen may `be substituted to provide the well known combination Vstorm-and-screenwindow type of construction. l

In prior practice, as typied in U. S. Patent 2,372,792, it has been customary to fit the storm or screen sash panels directly to the wood window casing structure of the building. vAs has been noted above, the dimensional variations in window casngs by way of departure from the The upper panel I0 is attached to the casing structure byl coil"` is fitted at itsl upper end with a rolled sheet4 ner24b to engage the surface of the sash. In addition the web section 22 is provided with bendable lugs 25 which can be die formed integral with the webV section. For a reason which, will later appear, lugs 25 extend outward at an inclination to the web and toward flange For cooperation with strip 22 the sash panel metal strip Ia'formed with a grooveV Ill'n to t tongue 22a, the tongue and groove being shaped` so that the Vpanel I9 can swingV outward, about an axis formed by edge IE)c of strip lila. This 1 action is more fully explained in'U. S. Patent standard dimensions and by reason of swelling, Y

contraction and warpingof the wooden structures hasnecessitated the yfitting of storm windows after they are deliveredr on Athe premises of the purchaser; 'and this has involved the services of carpenters and painters on the job Ywith resultant high cost of installation.A vTo' overcome these difficultiesV the present invention provides adaptor means preferably in the form of an inverted U-shaped frame formed of metal strips of novel design.

In lthe drawings the numeral I9 designates the adaptor frame as an entirety. Said frame comprises a head strip 29 and upright Vstrips 2|; 2l which are preferably welded orY brazed to the endsof the head 'strip to form an integral/frame structure. As shown in Fig. 2, Vthe head stripr20 comprises a web section 22 havingv an angle of about to provide a sharp lcor- Theupright frame strips 2l, 2| have webs 22 and flanges 23 and 24 and lugs 25', and are `i generally similar to strip 29 except that the tongue orrbead 22n of strip 20 is omitted in the Vcase of strips 2|, 2| and the lugs 25 of the latter are longer than those of strip 2|). A

The lugs 25'and 25Yof frame I9 are apertured to receive screws 26 which serve to attach thel frame I9 to the window casing structure with one or both of the sharp 'cornered ribs 23a engaging the members 'I and 8 of the window casing, while the sharpedge or rib 24*D of the adaptorY frame is exposed for engagement with the window sash elements, as shown in Figs.V

ment of ribs 24@l withV the casing. The termi-Y nal surface of the marginal rib 2iab lies at an angle of about 45 to the adjacent'face of the casing (Fig. 3a) and this facilitates repainting of the building because the resultantV angle draws the applied Vpaint into the joint.

While the frame strips 20 and 2I can be formed of various metals and can be fabricated in various ways, as for example by rolling, we prefer to extrude them, using a metal, such as aluminum alloy, suitable for that method. The integral lugs 25 and 25' are made by a die forming operation on the extruded strips.

At the bottom of the sash and casing structures sill-supported adaptor means is provided in the form of a rocker closure or sealmem ber 27.- This member is in the form of an anglerbar having one arm 28 thereoif' disposed between the lower edge of the sashrmember II and` the upper surface of the window sill 4 (Fig. 8). The other arm 29' of the bar 21 is upturned to engage the inner surface'of the sash member II, and preferably has its free edge 29a bent outward as shown so that its sharp-corner engages the surface of the sash. The juncture between the arms 28 and 29 of the Vbar 27 is curved on a relatively large radius and the bar is formed with a series of apertures 3B elongated transversely of the bar to receive attaching screws 3|. With the rounded conformation ofY the bar 27 and with the attaching screws 3I incompletely screwed home inthe elongated apertures 30' the bar is aiorded aV loose attachment so that when the sash member II is moved inward into engagement with 2l is given a rolling movement on the sill and amate" tl'iefouter; lbngtudiil edge' ff 'learm f 281? l'- "b'a/ is lifted itol iirmengagemen't with l the bottom surface of `sash member II.- Furtherniir' thebr 'zifwhusfformar-arie mounted is adapted toel'ose the' space between' the bottom' edge ofthe sash and the`uppr""surfacel`f the. sill 4 notwithstanding# considerable A variation in the clearance betweenthose two parts. Thus i1' the clearance is relatively small the attaching screws 3| `can `be appliedae shown` in` Fig? 'ifsithat* the rounded-^longitud`inally vfexteriding corner of the angle will be held relatively-*close to the adjacent outwardly'iiacing' shoulder of the sill member 4; while ifthe'fclearance between the sill `and the `sash Vis,relativcly'large` they attaching" screws can be 'tBTaShOVl/ in.

rigqfa- @se Athat the4 bar) zrwiirnavelfredom to swing through a larger angle when the bottom sash member is-broughtitdnormal position @shown in nata. i wrh femngeedrattaching'"ruleset:or m11 wil, n dinarily afford *drainag'ebetweenthe sash and sill/membersl but `the barjmayA also'gbefproe videdjwith `weepfholes, 32f'a'sf shown-in Fig.'L 7: The arm 290i theA b ar 21 'i`smad e`j"shorter than thearm 28 so that thewformer.canwswing` in; wardly between the inner'edges of the flanges 24`of thesides2l of the adaptor"` frame while the""extending ends ,off-the longer arm 28 will iitjfclosely'. adjacent the web sections 22 ofjthe adaptor"frame'partsv 2|; i

'I'helrocker bar .21 also can bekextruded of` aluminum alloy andby suitableA choice or treatment of thelmetal the formed'partsrcanlbe given a suitable "degree of" hardness andlresilience.`

' The sash` and adaptor frame structure l are provided withfsuitableflocking`-means 33,"33 for holding. ,the sashj panels in closed` position and various open positionseach'A sash panel having twoof the locks. `As` shown in Figs. 5 and 6, eachV lockcomprises a bolt 34 slidably mounted in a tubularcase` 3 5 which is pressed into a hole! in" thefupright sash" member. 'The' bolt hasa section 35Ia of reduced cliai'rieten'through-V out the major part Yonf .length `toi accommodate a coil spring 36`jwhich atfone` end engages shoulder of theA bolt 3la`n`d atitsothenend engages the inturned` end ofi-thej'case 35Jsoas normally` to press the bolt f outward 'as faras is'nlpermvitted `by the operating handle 31 whichV is` securedby a pin on the reducedendof vthe bolt..\` The part ofvthe bolt 3 4gwhich. pljects from the open endoi 1`.thekcase1.35 fcompris'es" a taperedend 34h. and, intermediate said .endland the main body ofthe bolt, vis an eccentricneck portion `349,. .The lock furthenincludes a` clieeper .38.,riveted to the.adaptor;strips2|v and having a seriesnof` holes'` 38e to receivef` .ther projecting end of bolt 3l.' 'n' v' .1.1i the, @Pere-tien ofthe.. Ol? the.. rledsnd 3.4! facilitates entrance of, the b` t` "the keeper holes 38a,` under theurging'` gsvjnnrinfg" 365 rrrWhenthe bolt has lully entered thefn-,j nerrnost of fthe keeperholes" it can Vbe[rotated by turning thehandle 31downw`ardfrom a horizontal `position to the fullline position shown in Fig. 6 so that the eccentric nelISlc of the bolt forces the-window panel inward 'against the flange 24' of theadaptor framevtoeiect'a tight closure'.` i t l i w i i The manner'iinwhichthev `sas'hzstructure 9` and.. the adaptor casing are assembled, Lor. mounted in `the window casing structure will readily be understood from the foregoing descrptvionp The sashstructurehaving been pro-Z provided of a' length tot the adaptor frame,

the first step in the mounting of the parts in the window casing is to adjust'the locating lugs 25 and 25' of thefsaid` frame member so that (iti the' 'adaptor casing will be centered laterally in `thewindow casing opening 'and the lower ends of "the frame bars 2|, 2| will be positioned suitablyl close to the upper surface of the sill LwWiththe adaptor frame formed of malleablemetal its lugs 25, 25 can readily be bent dow-"casing structure bythe securing screws 26;V

2li;`-v preferably .after 'tapping the sharp ribs 23a, 24a' 'of the-frame into slightly embedded en` gagement `with the wood casing. These ribs are adapted to penetrate the wood of trim strips 1 and 8 more or less to compensate for small variations of the strips from standard thickness. e i

The sash structure 9 can now be mounted in the adaptor frame by screwing the suspension hooks `I3 into the 4transverse screen stop 6 and attaching to them the suspension springs I2', I2!` of the upper sash member I D; Thereupon the lower sash member may be mounted by attaching the upper ends of springs I 8 to suspension hooks I1 carried by the upper sash member I0,

The clearance `between the bottom edge of theflower sash member II and the upper surfaceof the window sill 4 is now determined and the `adaptorand seal member 21 can be suitably mounted on the window sill as previously described" so that when the lower sash member is swung from an open position into vertical alignment with the closed top sash member the outer edge of the part 28 of the rocker 21 willilbe `forced upward into iirm engagement with the lower edgeof sash member I I (Figs. 8,f i8w) so as to effectively close the clearance between the bottom of the sash and the top surface of `the sill. The firm engagement of rocker 21, throughout its length, with t'hebottom of the sash structure is facilitated by resilient-yielding of the rocker bar.

The above described construction of the panel closure is such that one person working alone and entirely outside a building, can'rapidly and easily install a window or door.

As is apparent from inspection of Figs. 2, 3 and '3a the outwardly extending flange 23 of the side and top bars of `the adaptor frame I9 and the character of the rocker 21 make it possible'tot the "adaptor". frame to window casing structures which depart considerably (due to' either careless fabrication, swelling, expansion or `other cause) from the: correct nominal Vdimensions'of the casing structure. Thus the entire sash structure'fadaptor frame and fbottom adaptor and weather seal device can be manufactured completer to readilyheld dimensional limits by ilargelscale` production methods and tl'ie'sashsslwhen transported `to thebuilding for which they are supplied can be oeasily and tion :attains the highly desirable results of low' cost` large scale-manufacture, low cost installationand pleasing appearance.

lt will be appreciated that the sharp cornered cr ribbed construction of the adaptor frame facilitatesgclose engagement between the frame and the casing and between the frame and the sashjwithl resultant effective sealing against the weather. The-.beveled .form of the free edge of the frame ilanges 23 contributes tothis result. Forwhen the window casing is painted (in the course of building upkeep)v the angle between the bevel and the casing surface, as previously noted, causes paintrto' be drawn in and, in effect, call; the joint. Furthermore, the form of the adaptor frame and its arrangement in the casing are-such thatif any moisture finds entrance to the continuous space between the frame Aand the casing it can nd free drainage to .the window sill and out through clearance which may be provided between the bottom ends of the frame strips 2l and the sill. Rotting and deterioration of thecasing structure isthus obviated.

,It will readily be appreciated that the adaptor frame is susceptible of modification in a variety' of ways in the practice of the invention. Thus in Figs. 9 and 10 is shown a modied form of adaptor frame in which the top or transverse strip 3S of such frame is fitted with hanger lugs 39a for cooperation with hanger brackets 49 attached tothe top rail of the sash l0. Each of such hanger brackets 4l) is bifurcated at its upper end to embrace the lug a and has a pin il to engage the inwardly inclined surface of the lug to support the sash I in firm engagement with the inner flange of strip 39 yet with freedom to swing'outward to provide ventilation.

wood filler strip 43 between the member 'I' and` the a'nge of the adaptor frame.

Fig. 12 shows a modification for the same purpose but here the adaptor frame strips 44 have their.outwardlyiturned anges 45 elongated and curvedy backward to engage the thin window casingmember 'I'. i

By the use'of adaptor frames and bars'of the type shown and described sash structures of exact standard size can be inserted, with complete success as to appearance and eiective closure in window casing openings which vary from the standard size as much as in width and 1%" in height. It will be apparent that panel structures of'various types and forms can be used with the novel'adaptor frame and lbar and can be attached' to or mounted inn the adaptor frame in various ways. Also it is obvious that the sillmounted adaptor and weather seal can be used alone, i. e., independently of the adaptor frame,

and-in conjunction with practically any typeV of window sash thatis'movably mounted in a manner to actuate the adaptor when the sash ,is closed, as in the caseeof a easement window sash, for example. Furthermore, it is to be understood that 'the forms of construction shown can be varied substantially within the bounds of the invention as `dened Vin the, claims.` VV '-Ihe sill-mounted adaptor device is not separately claimed herein as it constitutes the subject of the copending application Serial No. 256,302, filed November thesaid closure -means comprising a panel structure substantially ,smallerv in Width and length than the opening formed by the upright, head Y and sill parts of a casing to be closed; an inverted U-shapedV adapter frame formed separately from the panel structure of metal bar stock of approximately vZ-shaped cross section and having a web part tting around the side and top edges of the panel structure, a pluralityof bendable lugs extending outwardly from said web part of the frame to slidably engage and by bending conform to the inner sides of a casing structure to position the framein the casing opening, a flange extending inwardly from the inner edge ofthe said web part to form a seatv for `the inner side of the panel and adapted to closely engage the blind stop of a casing structure, and a flange extending outwardly from the outer edge of the web to Qverlie` the outer face of the upright and-head parts of a casing structure more or less according to the size of the casing opening in order to cover the spacev between said parts and the edges of the panel; Vmeans for movably supporting the panel structure in the adapter frame; and means for securing the adapter frame to a casing structure. Y

2. Asan article of manufacture, an inverted U-shaped adapter frame for panell structures formed' of metal bar stock of approximately Z- shaped 'cross section having a longitudinally exte'ndingweb part disposed substantially at right angles to the plane of the frame, a continuous flange partV extending outwardly from one edge of the web part, and a second continuous flange extending inwardly from the other edge vofthe web,part,'the'top and'sidesof said frame having a plurality of bendable lugs extending outwardly at an inclination from the web part and transversely thereto toward the outwardly-extending flange.

3. An article `of manufacture as claimed in claimf2 in which at least some of the `lugs are apertured to receive attachment screwst 4. An article of manufacture as claimed` in claim 2 in which the outwardly-turned ange has a sharp-edged longitudinally-extendingy rib facing toward the plane of theinwardly-turned flange while the latter has on one side at least one sharp-edgedv longitudinally-extending rib facing awayfromY the plane of the outwardlyturned flange.

-5; An article of manufacture as claimedin claim 4 in which the inwardly-turned flange has also a sharp-edged longitudinally-extending rib facing toward the planeof the outwardly-turned flangej: Y

l6. As an'article of` manufacture, a metal bar of approximately Z-shaped cross section comprising a longitudinally-extending web part, two

longitudinal flanges extending in opposite directions from the respective longitudinal edges of the web and substantially at right angles to the web and a longitudinally-extending series of bendable lugs formed integrally with the web and extending 'transversely of the bar at an in clination to the web and toward one of the anges.

7. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 6 in which the two anges are formed on one side thereof with longitudinally-extending sharp-edged ribs facing in the same direction.

8. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 7 in which one of the anges is formed also with an oppositely-facing longitudinally-extending sharp-edged rib.

9. An article of manufacture as claimed in claim 6 in which at least some of the lugs are apertured to receive attachment screws.

10. The combination o1 a casing structure comprising upright, top, panel stop, and sill parts; a panel structure movably supported in the casing; adaptor means interposed between the bottom of the panel structure and the casing sill comprising an elongated metal angle bar having a transversely curved longitudinally-extending zone joining the two arm sections of the angle bar and adapted to roll on the top of the casing sill, the said zone having a plurality of attachment holes elongated transversely of the bar; and means extending through the attachment holes for loosely securing the angle bar to the sill with one arm of the bar extending upward to be engaged and moved by the inner face of the panel 10 and its other arm extending outward to engage the bottom edge of the panel when the bar is moved by the panel.

JOSEPH H. OSWALD. FREDERICK G. OSWALD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the le of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS` Number Name Date 608,759 Daniels Aug. 9, 1898 780,640 Tracy Jan.4 24, 1905 809,990 Shepherd Jan. 16, 1906 1,379,862 Goldsmith May 31, 1921v 1,727,953 Baum Sept. 10, 1929 1,808,413 Hurley et al. June 2, 1931 1,812,640 Michaels June 30, 1931 2,151,295 Hucke Mar. 21, 1939 2,156,964 Biddle May 2, 1939 2,219,594 Lang Oct.. 29, 1940 2,234,533 Nolan Mar. 11, 1941 2,262,670 Ensminger Nov. 11, 1941 2,342,614 Leacy Feb. 22, 1944 2,344,877 Janigan Mar. 21, 1944 2,402,112 Gee June 11, 1946 2,430,615 Levine Nov. 11, 1947 2,504,701 Krantz Apr.. 18, 1950 OTHER REFERENCES Handbook of Aluminum Molding, page 19, Aluminum Co. of America, Pittsburgh, Pa. 

